Electrical relay.



H. R. HOLTON.

ELECTRICAL RELAY.

APPLICATION nun ocnzs. Hi6- 1,235,978. Patented Allg- 7, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W'QZ

n. R. HOLTON. ELECTRICAL RELAY. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 23. ISIS.-

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

' 2 $HEETS-SHEET 2- airman) 40 mand.

HENRY R. HOLTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL RELAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

Application filed October 23, 1916. Serial No. 127,239.

To all whom z'tlmay concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. HoL'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in Ele'ctrical Relays,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to animproved electrical relay and has as its primary object to provide a device of this character especially designed for usein connection with electric clock systems, telephone systems, program systems and the like and designed for closing, by means of a master regulator, any reasonable number of circuits in multiple, thus eliminatingthe necessity for the use of a separate relay for each circuit as well as a master relay for the regulator.

The invention has as a further object to ing a plurality of spring contacts engageable by a contact member for closing a 01rcuit"through all of said contacts and to a further provide an improved mounting for the said contacts.

The invention has as afurther'object to provide an improved mounting for the electro-ma net employed and wherein the arma ture of? the said magnet will be provided ia strike plate to prevent the said armatu re from sticking so that the armature may move to swing the contact member for a quick make and break between the said meinber and the said spring contacts.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide a relay,which will be of ruggedcharacter and so constructed that any of 1: e parts liable to be afi'ected'by wear 'may easi y be removed asoccasion may de- Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of-the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corparts throughout the several f responding views:

Figure 1 isa plan view of my improved device articularly showing the arrangement ogthe spring contacts em loved and the mounting of the stopguard or limiting the outward throw ofthe armature,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plamview more articularly illustrating-the manner in w ich the insulating late of-the base is connected to the supportlngframe therefor aswell as ing the mounting of the provide a device of this character employtweenthesupporting bars for the spring the mounting of the-electrical terminals of the device,

Fig. 3 is a lon itudinal sectional view more particularly s owing the mounting of the spring contacts as Well as'the mounting oft he armature of the electro'magnet,

F1g. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and particularly showelectro-magnet,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on'the llne 5- -5 of Fig. 3 and particularly showing the supporting bars for the spring contacts I2nd the insulating strips between the said ars, I

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the armature, th s view particularly showing the strike plate carried b Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing one of the insulating strips employed beconta-cts.

In carrying out the invention; my improved relay is formed with a base including a preferably oblong metallic supporting frame 10 upon which is mounted an insulating plate 11. The frame 10, at "itsextremities, is provided with apertured ears 12 for connecting the base with a suitable supporting structure and rojecting inwardly from the sides an ends of the frame at the upper margins thereof are, as particularly shown in Fig. .2, a plurality of lugs 13 receiving screws or other suitable p the armature for preventmgthe' stlcking o the armature, and

fastening devices connecting. the plate 11 g with the frame."

Mounted upon the plate 11 adjacent one extremity of the base is a transversely arranged electro-ma et 14. This magnet is formed with 'a sultable core 15 reduced at its extremities to provide trunnions 16. The trunnions 16 are removably fitted through metallic pole blocks 17 with screws'or other suitable fastening devices 18 threaded into the ends of the'said trunnions for detachably'connectin the electro-magn'et with the said block's. he blocks 18 are seated upon the plate 11 adjacent opposite side edges thereofand are detachably connected with the said plate by a cross strip 19. I This strip is preferably formed ofsprmg brass and at its ends is provided with reduced terminals removably fitted througlh slightly1 above the plate 11. Inserted this plate. from the lower side theresuitable openings in the blocks 18 with t e said strip spaced midway the ends thereof is a locking screw of use of the device.

ends of the plate or other suitablefastening device 19 adjustable for bowing the said strip downwardly to consequently lock the screws 19' in engagement therewith and thereby also look he blocks 18 upon the plate 11.

.In this connection, it is to be observed that the blocks 17 may be easily displaced for removing the magnet 14: and accord: ingly, magnets of different resistance may be readily used in connection with the device and substituted one for the other to meet the varying requirements in the field The terminals of the winding of the magnet 14 are, as particularly shown in Fig. plate 11 and connected to binding posts 20 mounted at opposite sides of the said platein front of the electro-magnet. Arranged to cooperate with the pole blocks 17 is an armature 21 of iron or other suitable material.

nected to the lower extremity of this arma-'- pivot bar 22 received between the Con- ture is a pole 'blocks 17 and formed at its extremities with trunnions 23 fitted through the said blocks for pivotally supporting the armature. The bar 22 is formed of brass or other non-magnetic material and is'secured to the armature b pins or other approved fastenings and i desired, suitable non-magnetic washers, as and 6, or a liner of similar material may be interposed between the said bar and the ar- -mature. As shown in Fig. 3, the armature 21 is mounted to normally gravitate away from the blocks 17 and ismovable upon the trunnions 23' to engage at its ends with the sgidhblocks. Mounted upon the inner face 0 t a suitable piece of plate 24 is connected at aipoint intermediate ts ends to theannature normally deflected away from the ends of the armature. Accordingly, it will be seen that'when the armature is moved to-engage the blocks 17, the

' extremities of the plate 24 will be compressed between the armature and the said locks with the plate yieldably acting to spring the armature away from the said- Connected to the upper ends of the blocks blocks so'that upon the deenergi'z'ation of the electr c-magnet, the armature will be uiekly freed. Any possibility of the sticking of the, armature is thus overcome. Furthermore, the provision of the plate-24 will niaterially enhance the decisive movement of the armature.

placement of the the blocks.

2, carried through the' particularly shown in Figs. 1'

plate 11 of the base to be e armature is a resille'nt strike'plate 24 21 by a screw'or other suitable fastening device 25 with the 17 to extend transversely therebetween is a mature in its movement away from the said.

blocks. This guard will prevent undue'disarmature with respect to Mounted upon the outer side of the'armature 21 is an angular contact member 28 of suitable metal, one 'arm of which is connected to the lower extremity, of the armature by screws or other suitable fastening devices While theother arm 29 of the said contact member extends laterally away from the armature and is provided at its outer extremit with an upstanding flange 0r rib 30. end to end thereof, is a contact strip 31 of silver, tungsten, or other approved material, The contact member 28 is of a length substantially equal to that ofthe armature 21 and it willnow-be observed that the stop guard 26'is arranged to engage the upper edge of the armature for liinltln the armature in its outward .IIIOVGmBHt'WIt-h the arm 29 of the contact member restin upon the plate 11 of the base. The sairf arm will thus be relieved ofany strain. -Ifdesired, the contact member the armature. Connected with the contact member '28 at a oint substa-ntially midway the ends thereof, 1s an electrical conductor 32 preferably of the ribbontype. This conductor is secured to the contact member by a screw or other suitable fastening device armature 21 with the said through an openthence through a suitable openingin the secured to a bindn% 0st 34 upon the said plate.' As. shown in 1 may be insulated from g. 1, the post 34 is' preferably arranged between the posts 20.

Mounted upon the extremity of the base opposite the electro-magnet 14 are a plurality of-longitudinall supporting bars 35. T ably formed'of brass. and are, arranged in substantiall parallel relation upon the plate 11 of the se to be secured thereto by screws or other suitable fastening devices 36' inserted through the bottom .of the plate 11 to engage the. said bars. adjacent opposite extremitles thereof. Separating the barsf35 are a sulating strips 37 {of fiber or similar matebars are preferor phosphor bronze rial. Each strip, adjacent the outer extremity thereof, is formed with extension 38 and idtt its lower 1s pro- .vided at opposite. sides thereof with longitudinally extending flanges 39. As will be observed upon reference to F ig; .5, the lower edges of the bars 35 are inwardly cut or an upstanding extending contact plurality of -in over the inner ends of .the bars 35'to cooper- "beveled to provide shoulders LO and the flanges 39 of the strips 37 are arranged to engage beneath these shoulders with the bars 35 thus acting to hold the said strips against uni-ping. Arranged upon the bars 35 to extend longitudinally thereof, are a plurality of spring contacts all having their outer extremities received between the upstanding extensions 38 of the strips 37 and connected with the-bars 35 by screws or other suitable fastening devices 42. In .this connection, it is to be observed, that the strips 37, throughout the major portion of their length terminate flush with the upper faces of the bars with the extensions 38 of the said strips extendingabove the said bars. at the outer ends thereof. The outer extremities ol the contacts 41 fit snugly-between the said extensions so that should one of the two screws connecting each of the said contacts with its supporting bar become displaced,

-the adjacent extensions 38 of the said strips.

will engage the said contact to prevent the contact from pivoting upon the other screw to engage with any of the other contact stri s.

Iii employing the bars 35, a ri id and .secure mounting is provided for 0 contacts 41. Furthermore, these bars are arran ed to space the contacts from the insulating plate 11 so that the said plate, as is oftentimes the case, will not chemically act upon the saitLcontacts to cause their corrosion'or discoloration. As particularly shown in Fig. 3, the bars 35 are provided with beveled or inclined upper faces-43 sloping toward the inner ends of thesaid bars so that the inner extremities of the contacts 41 are normally spaced a slight distance from the said bars. Free movement of the inner-extremities of the contacts is thus permitted and these contacts are arranged to project ate with the contact member 28. Prefera ly, each of the said contacts is formed with a. ontact point 44- of silver, tungsten or the like, with the said contact point confronting the contact strip 31- It will now be seen that when the arma-' ture is attracted by the electro-magnet, the. contact member 28 will be moved to simultaneously close a circuit through all of the contacts 41 with the inner ends .of the said contacts adapted to flex with respect to the inclined faces 43 ofthe bars 35' to seat against the contact strip 31 of the'said contact member. Furthermore, it will be observed that the armature is so mounted that a quick make and break will be had between the contact member and the .said contacts; Connected to the outer extremities of the bars 35 are binding. screws 45 for receiving the circuit \s'ircs from the contacts 41, and it will he noted that the extensions 38 of the strips 37 are arranged to insulate the upper closing a plurality of circuits of a system.

.in multiple to dispense with the use of an individual .relay for each circuit. Furthermore, the several parts of the device are so mounted that each part subjected to wear may be easily observed and removed as'occasion may demand.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: p

1. An electrical relay including a' base, an electromagnet mounted thereon, an annatur'e mounted to cooperate with the said magnet, a contact member carried by the said armature to swing therewith, an elon-.

gated supporting block mounted upon the base,and a sprin contact connected to the upper face of said block and arranged to cooperate with said contact member with the block extending beneath out the major portion of the length thereof. 2. An electrical relay including a base, upstanding pole blocks carried thereby, an electroemagnet mounted upon the said blocks, an armature arranged to cooperate with the magnet and shiftable to engage said 'blocks, a yieldahle strike plate connected intermediate of its ends to the armature with the extremities of the said plate deflected away from the armature to engage the inner vertical edges of said blocks to preventsticking oi the armature, a'contact member carried by the armature, and a contact mounted upon the base to cooperate with the said contact member. 3. An electrical relay including a base, an clectro-magnet mounted thereon,- pole blocks upstanding from the base and" supporting the said magnet toextend transversely therebetween, an armature swinginglylconnected with said block to cooperate with the magnet and movable to edges of the blocks, a contact'mounted upon the base,

lower extremity of thesaid arm'ature with the other arm of the contact member extending beneath the said contact to codperate therewith.

the contact through abut the inner vertical and an angular contactimember having one arm thereof connected to the 4. An electrical relay including a'hasc, an

electro-n'iagnet mounted thereon, pole blocks supportingthe said' magnet, an armature swingingly connected with said blocks to cooperate with the magnet, a stop guard connecting the said blocksand arranged for engagement with the free extremity of the armaturefor li..ziting the armature in its outward throw away fromthe magnet, a 133 contact member carried by the armature,

and a spring contact mounted upon the base.

to cooperate with the said cont-act member.

5. An electrical relay including a base, an electro magnet mounted thereon, a swlngingly mounted armature arranged to cooperate with the magnet,'a contact member connected to the said armature to swing therewith, a metallic supporting block mounted upon the base and provided with a beveled upper face, and a spring contact connected to the upper face of said block with the free extremity of said contact extending away from the beveled :face of the block to cooperate with the said contact member.

6. An electrical relay including a base, an electro-m'agn'et mounted thereon, an. armature arranged to'coiiperate with the magnet, a contact member carried by the said armature to swi porting bloc s mounted upon the base, 1nsulat' strips between the said blocks, and a plu l ifiity of spring contacts connected with the blocks to project over the inner ends thereof for cooperating with the said contact member.

-7. 'Anelectrical relay including a base, an electro-magnet' mounted thereon, an armature arranged to cooperate with the magnet, a contact member carried by said armature, a pluralit of supporting blocks mounted upon the ase and provided with shoulders v at their lower margins, insulating strips between the said blocks and provided with flanges engaging with said shoulders, and a pluralit of spring contacts mounted upon the sai blocks-with the said contacts Looting over the inner extremities of the locks to cooperate T with the said contact member.

upon the base, insu ends of the blocks to cooperate with the-said, contact member;

9. Anelectrical relay including a base, an electro-magnet mounted thereon, an armature arranged to cooperate with the -magnet,'a contact mounted up'on the-base, an angular contact member having one arm thereof secured tothe armature with the other arm of the said member arranged to coiiperate with the said contact,- and a conductor-connected with said first mentioned therewith, a plurality of supproarm of the contact member and loosely received through the other arm thereof.

10. An electrical relay including a base, an clectro-magnet mounted thereon, pole blocks supporting themagnet, and means extending between the blocks, means connected with the base and engaged with said.

first 'mentioned means for securing the blocks upon the base, an armature arranged to cooperate with the magnet, a contact member carried by the armature and a contact mounted upon the base to cooperate with the said member.

11. An electrical relay including a 'base, an electro-magnet mounted thereon, pole blocks supporting the magnet, a strip extending between the said blocks, means con-' nected with the base and adjustably'engaged with said strip for securing the blocks upon the base, an armature arranged to cooperate with the magnet, a contact membercarried by the armature, and a contact mounted upon the base to cooperate with the said member.

12. .A.n electrical relay including a base, an electro-magnet mounted thereon, pole blocks supporting the magnet, 'means ex tending between the said blocks, means connected with the base and engaged with the said first mentioned means-for securing the blocks upon the base, means connected with the base and enga' d. with said first mentioned 'means for ocking the said -second mentioned means in engagement with the said first mentioned means, an armature arranged to cooperate with the magnet, a contact member carried by the said armature. and a contact mounted upon thebase to cooperate with the said member.

13. An electrical relay including a base, anelectro-magnet mounted thereon, pole blocks supportlng the magnet, a strip extending between the said blocks, means connected with the base and engaged with said strip for securing the blocks upon the base, means connected with the base and adjustably engaged with the strip for locking, the said first mentioned means in engagement with the strip, an armature arranged to cooperate with themagnet, a' contact member carried by the armature, and" a. contact mounted upon the base to cooperate with the said member.

14. An electrical relay including a base,

'an electro-magnet mounted thereon, pole blocks supportingthe magnet upon the base,

an armature,-a pivot bar connected to thei armature to extend"longitudina1ly.,thereof and reduced its extremities to provide trunnions engaged with said blocks ,for

swmgingly supporting the armature to cooperate with the said magnet, a contact member carried by the armature, and a contact mounted upon the base to cooperate with tho. said member.

redueed portions of the .core of t mauve ing' the magnet with the said bloclm, ,an

armature mounted to cooperate with the 10 magnet, a contact member carried by the armature, and a contact mounted u n the base to coiiperate with the said mem In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY n HOLTON. 1. 5.]

00pm ot thin-patent may be obtained for live cent; each, by dressing the We: of Intent,

, Washington, D. 0." 

